Creating Menus with DVD Shrink

[darthdenis]

Hello, I finally broke down and got a DVD+RW drive. My question involves putting menus in a new DVD. I want to take multiple movies (say, the Indiana Jones Trilogy) and put just the movies on one disc with a menu so I can chose which movie to watch. Is this possible? I currently use DVD Shrink, but would not be adverse to using another program. Thanks!

[2COOL]

Originally posted by darthdenis
I want to take multiple movies (say, the Indiana Jones Trilogy) and put just the movies on one disc with a menu so I can chose which movie to watch. Is this possible?

With DVD Shrink? No

You'll have to re-author the whole thing using a DVD authoring software. Recommendations on using DVD-Lab or TMPGenc DVD Author. Both have full working 30 day trials.

I finally broke down and got a DVD+RW drive.

BTW, didn't one come with your drive? It's usually packaged with software.

[darthdenis]

It did, but I never bothered using it because a friend recommended DVD Shrink instead. Thanks for the info!

In this age where a good DVD-R blank costs ~50c I dont see why you should bother to waste countless hours encoding and reauthoring a multi-movie disc. If you count your own time wasted in lost productivity, electricity (if say, using CCE at multiple passes) etc it can easily cost as much as the real thing in the shop.

With Shrink3.2 you can easily encode the indy jones boxset while keeping everything in them. Those movies were impossible with shrink 3.17 and 3.2 should really show its worth there.

Originally posted by Joergen
I this age where a good DVD-R blank costs ~50c I dont see why you should bother to waste countless hours encoding and reauthoring a multi-movie disc. If you count your own time wasted in lost productivity, electricity (if say, using CCE at multiple passes) etc it can easily cost as much as the real thing in the shop.

With Shrink3.2 you can easily encode the indy jones boxset while keeping everything in them. Those movies were impossible with shrink 3.17 and 3.2 should really show its worth there.

magnific observations and conclusions my friend Joergen, i was thinking the same a few days and you got "my words" !

[darthdenis]

You both raise an excellent point. Still, on some level, the geek in me wants to know if X can be done, so I try to see if I can do it. Yeah, media is cheap. Yeah, it doesn't take a lot to encode one movie per disc. But still, the idea, "Hey, wouldn't it be neat if I can do X?" is always there whenever I get something new to "play" with. So I come to forums like these where in less than an hour, someone answered my question in clear language and offered solutions to what I wanted to do. He/She also honestly stated that it just wasn't practical on some level. That, to me, is the best part of asking the Question: can it be done?

For the record: the encoding went fine, and I didn't mean to wax philosophical for a bit there. ;-)

I understand you wanting to try out the possibilities. I also did a couple reauthored multimovie discs back when blanks cost $8 a pop. Even then I had to question the amount of work and time it took.

Then again it sure makes me appreciate tools like DVD-RB and Shrink knowing those days of hopeless rebuilding of the original DVD.

all right darthdenis, good point!
i have some little cartoons form dvd sources and i can put 2 or 3 without compression in one dvd media but i don't know how to do menus for this (2 or 3 ) cartoons using dvdshrink! your idea(question) is good and pratical for me too. i want to know "how to do it" like you...this is the "X" of your (cool) question! i was thinking about this too...searching good ideas.

[Yo]

I wondered about this too--that if one re-authors content from different DVDs together with Shrink, is there a way with that program to add a menu to choose between them?

I haven't seen how to do that. When you do a "Full Backup" you retain the original menu of that DVD. When you go into the "Re-author" mode, you lose all menus. That might be fine with one movie where you don't need any choices-just put in the DVD and watch the movie. If you have two movies though, you need a menu to choose between them.

There is a program I just downloaded that I think is supposed to do that, DVD Remake by Dimadsoft. (I might have heard about it here, I don't recall.) Not a free program, though--the standard version costs I think $25, and the Pro version $40. The demo version will not save, so it is hard to see if it actually works. Also, very user unfriendly, difficult to figure out, and no documentation or help file come with it. There are a couple guides at their web site. I stil haven't figured otu very well how to use this program to merge content from diffeent DVDs, to add a menu, etc. Anyone successfully used DVD Remake? If so, let us know more about it.

[dragongodz]

i want to know "how to do it" like you...this is the "X" of your (cool) question! i was thinking about this too...searching good ideas.

2cool has already answered how to do multiple clips/movies on 1 dvd with a menu to choose which to play.

so you shrink or re-encode the clips/movies, rip as single vobs, dvd-lab latest betas can load vobs from memory but i dont know about tmpgenc author, create menu and compile dvd. finally burn.

you may have to set audio delay aswell of course so write down what that is or you can demux the vob wirth Rejig and have it correct the delay.

easy.

[darthdenis]

Yeah...sounds perfectly simple ;-)

[dragongodz]

ok i know when first looking at it that it seems a bit daunting. by the time you have done it a few times though it becomes pretty straightforward. trust me.

[Yo]

Originally posted by dragongodz
2cool has already answered how to do multiple clips/movies on 1 dvd with a menu to choose which to play.

so you shrink or re-encode the clips/movies, rip as single vobs, dvd-lab latest betas can load vobs from memory but i dont know about tmpgenc author, create menu and compile dvd. finally burn.

you may have to set audio delay aswell of course so write down what that is or you can demux the vob wirth Rejig and have it correct the delay.

easy.

You're saying that it cannot be done with DVDShrink, can only be done with DVD-authoring software?

Yes, DVD-authoring software can do this, but we were wondering, since the "Re-author" function of Shrink can put video from two DVDs onto one DVD, it would be nice if one could just add a menu to that, without separate (and expensive) authoring software

[Lagoon]

It's pretty easy to do in dvd maestro if you have some knowledge with it.

If you only need one audio track and no subs, then tmpeg dvd author will do it, otherwise it can't.

[2COOL]

Though I haven't upgraded to DVDLab Pro, it looks awesome to try. You can also author in up to 8 subtitles.

Multiple Audio and Subtitle Channels
Each title in DVD-lab PRO can have up to 8 audio channels: AC3, MPA, LPCM or DTS and also number of subtitle streams. You have the ability to add 8 subtitle channels, import from popular formats. You can use customized graphic subtitles (import from bitmap)

Originally posted by Yo
You're saying that it cannot be done with DVDShrink, can only be done with DVD-authoring software?

Yes, DVD-authoring software can do this, but we were wondering, since the "Re-author" function of Shrink can put video from two DVDs onto one DVD, it would be nice if one could just add a menu to that, without separate (and expensive) authoring software

yes....this is exact what i was "thinking" Yo....with tmpgencdvdauthor with one audio track without subs we can do (and i did lots)cool menus but don't for more audio tracks and subs.
how and if dvdshrink could do menus for 2 or 3 movies with subs(2 for each movie)and 2 audios(for each movie)without and expensive author program like dvd-lab or dvd-maestro....sometimes(or many times) i do 2 main movies with 2 audios and subs using D2S(dvd2dvd)and "mix" this movies with dvdshrink but without menus...and sometimes short cartoons(in Brasil have lots of short cartoons in dvds) that we can put 4 of that cartoons without compression with dvdshrink in one dvd media.
the point is: a free and cool program like dvdshrink to do the "hard part" and another expensive and complicated program like dvd-maestro or dvd-lab only to do menus with 2 audios and subs per movie?
and the worse for me: i can't buy this expensives programs!

[dragongodz]

You're saying that it cannot be done with DVDShrink, can only be done with DVD-authoring software?

yes.

since the "Re-author" function of Shrink can put video from two DVDs onto one DVD, it would be nice if one could just add a menu to that, without separate (and expensive) authoring software

yes i understand but the fact is it cant. it does not have menu creation capabilities. could it be made to ? well yes if dvdshrink(the person) wanted to add a basic menu creation(plain screen with text buttons for each complete title) he probably could. considering that he has said before he doesnt want to add new features i wouldnt hold my breath waiting for it to happen though.

so the short answer to all that is no dvdshrink can not add a menu for multiple titles so your only current solution is dvdauthoring programs.

edited
sorry,posted the same 2 times(conections is "mad" here....slow and strange)

[dragongodz]

i can't buy this expensives programs!

you can always try dvdauthorgui. i posted the link to it in a post before so a bit of a search should find it.

thanks dragongodz (and congrats for the new QuENC)
dvdauthorgui found here: http://users.adelphia.net/~liquid64/dvdauthorgui.html

Features of DVDAuthorGUI include:
multiple titles (pgc) <---
multiple titleset menus (still and motion) <---
m2v still creation
chapters
subtitles <---
multiple audio streams <---
basic navigation commands
iso creation

edited>
magnific sample motion menu demo that was constructed with avisynth (via the motion menu script generator). http://liquid217.tripod.com/menudemo.html

[Fallen]

Try Titlewriter 1.63 over at DVF -- can add simple Generic menus virtually instantly to dvd files that don't have a menu - without reprocessing everything. Or much more complex roll your own menus.

Heres a link to proggies

Located At:
http://www.dvdshrink.info/titlewriter/

[MackemX]

Originally posted by Yo
There is a program I just downloaded that I think is supposed to do that, DVD Remake by Dimadsoft. (I might have heard about it here, I don't recall.) Not a free program, though--the standard version costs I think $25, and the Pro version $40. The demo version will not save, so it is hard to see if it actually works. Also, very user unfriendly, difficult to figure out, and no documentation or help file come with it. There are a couple guides at their web site. I stil haven't figured otu very well how to use this program to merge content from diffeent DVDs, to add a menu, etc. Anyone successfully used DVD Remake? If so, let us know more about it.

the demo is very limited as you cannot see your results

here is my guide on how to merge 2 DVD's keeping fully functional original menu's HERE

it's all depends whether you want to keep all the original fancy menu's and have the time and resources

[Cela]

Since my sources do not have any menus I do my simple, static menu (background image, linkage buttons) with DVD-lab PRO B5c (or higher) employing only a tiny part of DVD-lab Pro's capabilities.

Then I use DVDReMake Pro to update/create the navigation between menu and VTSs. MackemX's Guides taught me how to do it.

Big thanks to MackemX.

[dannyv]

Originally posted by darthdenis
I want to take multiple movies (say, the Indiana Jones Trilogy) and put just the movies on one disc with a menu so I can chose which movie to watch. Is this possible? I currently use DVD Shrink, but would not be adverse to using another program. Thanks!

Darthdenis,

It is possible with additional software. I use dvd author which very easly lets you make your own custom menus from the VOB files shrink creates. Read this post http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81320 for more information. The program has a full function 30 day trial period.

[Holomatrix]

I've always used TMPGenc DVD Author (you can get around the subs thing) and have found it to do exactly what I need. My own custom Title w/background, Two movies with Titles and sample pics, very cool, but now I think I'll try some of these other suggestions here. Cool

[rte5]

I use dvdauthorGUI for that. You can import VOBs with it, add one sub from an srt file, and multiple audio.

http://users.adelphia.net/~liquid64/dvdauthorgui.html

Another GUI for dvdauthor:

http://www.boraxsoft.de/GUI_DVDauthor_eng_01.shtml

But I'm curious about this Titlewriter. How do I use it to make a menu? Are there any FAQs or guides about Titlewriter?

[Fallen]

Titlewriter is a program that can add/author dvd_Text, and can add a menu (Pre created menu - Generic Examples Provided) to dvd files without reauthoring/anaylsis of whole dvd (Only touches ifos/menu vobs).
In other words if you want a menu on a dvd that doesn't have one you can add it in seconds (And repeatedly reuse the menu). I use it on DvdShrink reauthored discs (which is the only way I backup). In my case I only care about menu functionality (Selecting titlesets,chapters,audio, subtitles without the overhead of the original menus)
ShrinkTitleBurn automates the whole process of transcoding>>titlewriting>>burning.
Guides are provided at the site (How to create your own menu templates etc), and basic menu templates (For say multiple titlesets,episodic etc).

FAllenAngel

[Pudah]

Titlewriter is a program that can add/author dvd_Text, and can add a menu (Pre created menu - Generic Examples Provided) to dvd files without reauthoring/anaylsis of whole dvd (Only touches ifos/menu vobs).
In other words if you want a menu on a dvd that doesn't have one you can add it in seconds (And repeatedly reuse the menu). I use it on DvdShrink reauthored discs (which is the only way I backup). In my case I only care about menu functionality (Selecting titlesets,chapters,audio, subtitles without the overhead of the original menus)
ShrinkTitleBurn automates the whole process of transcoding>>titlewriting>>burning.
Guides are provided at the site (How to create your own menu templates etc), and basic menu templates (For say multiple titlesets,episodic etc).

Where can I find this guide on using TitleWriter to make basic menus? It sounds like just the ticket for adding simple menus to my Bollywood film song compilation DVDs.

[2COOL]

Originally posted by Pudah
Where can I find this guide on using TitleWriter to make basic menus? It sounds like just the ticket for adding simple menus to my Bollywood film song compilation DVDs.

http://www.dvdshrink.info/titlewriter/

When you unzip the files, run ShrinkAndTitleWrite.exe.

[Sargondvd]

i was most surprised that doom9 site did not have this titlewriter program and its updates , where the most usefull tools are , in their download section , where most would hope to easly find it

If you have a multi disk player , with disk lib fuctions , then this program is a must have when doing your disks

regards to fallen

[Ghitulescu]

Originally Posted by Fallen

Titlewriter is a program that can add/author dvd_Text, and can add a menu (Pre created menu - Generic Examples Provided) to dvd files without reauthoring/anaylsis of whole dvd (Only touches ifos/menu vobs).
In other words if you want a menu on a dvd that doesn't have one you can add it in seconds (And repeatedly reuse the menu). I use it on DvdShrink reauthored discs (which is the only way I backup). In my case I only care about menu functionality (Selecting titlesets,chapters,audio, subtitles without the overhead of the original menus)
ShrinkTitleBurn automates the whole process of transcoding>>titlewriting>>burning.
Guides are provided at the site (How to create your own menu templates etc), and basic menu templates (For say multiple titlesets,episodic etc).

FAllenAngel

I've searched on and on, not a single guide for a tool like TitleWriter.
I've also tried the software for some hours, still no acceptable result (titles dissapear after switching to a different view/field/submenu and so on).

Maybe someone can compile an idiot-safe guide on how to add basic menus (no fancy commands or tricks) to a set of 2 or 3 movies.

[Fallen]

Simple

Download the latest TW

dvdshrink your titles (reauthor mode) save to folder

load TW Open -- shrunk folder
Fill in DVD-Text area first (TW make menu uses that info)
>> Make Menu >> Make Menu and save it >>Done

You can undo quick if you want and play with menu backgrounds --text etc (TW will save alot of those menu settings)

Guides Built into TW>>Help>> Tw Help (Duh)

[Thomas J]

Hey Fallen

I have to give you a massive thank you, I am a very experienced user of DVD Shrink and I always knew that while Re-Authoring you lose the ability to keep the menus option.

I accepted this trade off , and simply stayed with the idea of 1 Disc 1 Film.

Or anything over 1 program.......... then no menus........ just skip or jump to 1 2 3 etc etc

Previously if I wanted to create multiple files on 1 disc I simply used DVD Flick for my project/projects. Such as a Series or a "Video" mix of best episodes.

However now knowing that TitleWriter VER 4.72 exists and it is very compatible with DVD Shrink, is a great and excellent thing for me.

( I have tested your guide , and have just finished Browsing/Playing with 13 files on my 32" Widescreen Tv, Surfing with the Menu Titles (Images) that was created by me and the excellent Titlewriter Program. (DVD+RW will be reused)

Finally to make it clear to any other readers who may follow or come to this thread.

What you are actually doing is saving/Importing your Re-Authoured Files as normal (Even if from multiple discs) Then you are saving that Re-Authored Project as normal.

But the difference now is you open that project with TitleWriter (And Follow Fallen's Guide Above) I would like to add you can chose your own thumbnail Image via the slider, etc etc.

Now when your happy, TittleWriter makes it very simple.

Click the DVD Shrink Icon on TitleWriter, and low and behold you get the option to save this project (With Menus).

Save It and THIS IS THE ACTUAL PROJECT YOU BURN TO DISC (With your usual chosen DVD Burner)

Job Done ................................

Thanks Again............Fallen

Hope this is useful to all past, present and future readers

Thomas J

[Ghitulescu]

Then compile an idiot-failsafe guide to this software.

Meanwhile I use DVDstyler with "blank" MPEG-2 files, then PGCedit.

[Thomas J]

Hey Ghitulescu lol

Now I have to give you… a massive thank you for your recommendation of DVD Styler.

I downloaded and tested the software, and I have to say I am very, repeat very impressed. The software has a nice easy to use interface and creating/designing menus was a real pleasure. In fact I would go as far as saying it is the best menu designer I have used to date.

One tip I would give to anyone who is interested in this software program, Try creating jpg images from your “Video” files first. (MPC Snapshot or a simple Print Screen Click comes to mind).

If you do this FIRST , you will then have all kinds of options such as setting thumbnails, setting background images, etc, etc, the software program also gives you the options to move thumbs, change font, change colours, etc, etc, etc, you even get options to tell the menus what to do if a arrow, or icon of your choice is clicked.

Finally I created and watched the same “13 files TESTER” on my 32” Television, and everything was perfect, However I should point out here, if anyone is like me and loves their particular DVD Burning Software (mine is ImgBurn) you can still save as a ISO Image and burn at a later date.

As for getting 2 Films on 1 disc with menus I cannot see how DVD Styler can help because, the 4.7gb DVD size is still the standard here and I couldn’t find any shrink options.

One criticism I wish they had put a undo/redo icon on the toolbar, but it can be found in the edit menu.

Back to Ghitulescu, why my original lol……?

It so happens that I am a part time Reviewer and Software tester. I don’t feel like writing a review/guide for TittleWriter…lol

Thanks again Ghitulescu, DVD Styler is a absolute fantastic recommendation, and I hope this part of the thread is useful to all past, present and future readers

Thomas J

[Fallen]

Thomas J
A trick -- When you shrink (compile) the files into a single project -- Lower target size in preferences by about 1 meg per title. Then Make Menu yada yada Create Menu And Add it. You won't have to rerun TW/Shrink to reduce below the 4.7 threshold.

Another Trick. Multiple movies with orig menus and adding a switcher vmg Menu
Shrink-reauthor the movies together. into (Lets call it Project).Open Project in TW >>Make Menu ...
Deselect the options to create individual Title Menus (Chapters,Setup,Main)
Create Menu (Not create and add)
Now you are back in TW Main -- Get to Menu View
The first line will point to The VMGM (Video_ts) menu TW just created (In ...Project\TitleWriter\Menu
Video_ts
Click each subsequent line >> and browse to orig menu for that title. (Usually Largest VTS_??_0.ifo in source folders for Project)
Then Save Changes

You will most likely have to run happyface on each titles menus (Menu View -- click a title then Happyface) -- but that only takes a couple of min per

[Fallen]

Ghitulescu
Ye Gods A simple Guide
TW started as a DVD_Text segment editor -- without reauthoring
Then I added the Ability to import a simple menu into DVDShrink Reauthored Compiliations (again without reauthoring the project) (To cover
Then I thought A Menu is a Menu etc.
And stepped over the edge allowing any menu from any source to be imported (without reauthoring) and 90% of the time it would run as is. and the fixing was minimal
But the purists didn't like the trick I Used (Addressing/pointing multiple targets to the same target)
So Another redesign -- (I think I made a mistake there -- as is running after import went down int the 60% range)
Then I created a "fixing" interface to cover the above (And since studio menu designers are on drugs)
(Probably what you do in PGCEdit somewhat -- but keyed to visual drag and drop with User not needing PGC Structure/Command knowledge)
And then (again over the cliff) -> Make Menu (For small tight menus)

Then added options to jigger things within the created menus
Which expanded the option paths yet again.

All this without reauthoring the whole compiliation

Given the Number of possible combinations --An Idiot Guide simply boggles the mind
The Guide I made is just a few simple cases
and a few tricks and pointers

An Idiot proof Guide In TW would be like trying to write a guide In PGCEdit titled
"How to make any DVD work without having to learn any Pgc Structure or Command Syntax"

[Thomas J]

Happy New Year ALL.....

Ok I know this is a old post with the last few threads being 7 months old.

BUT as I have previously contributed, and learned a lot from this section...........

.....And as its New Years Eve Morning, I would just like too show to any pass present or future readers, Two.. IMHO fantastic additions for any DVD/CD Rippers like us.

It may appear off topic but I honesty feel they are both self explanatory and relevant.........here you go people.

Both Are FREEWARE Of Course....

1 ] My Absolute Favorite, For Quick & Easy Designs ( Jewel Case Special )

http://www.cddvdlabelmaker.com/

2 ] Everything DVD/CD Related Now includes Blu-Ray Options. ( More Than Jewel Case )

http://www.undercoverxp.tk/

Hope These links are useful for ALL......

Yours Thomas J